Debra Katz, the attorney representing Christine Blasey Ford, said Monday that her client is willing to testify before Congress about her accusations against Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh.
Ms. Katz confirmed on three morning news shows that Ms. Ford would be willing to go on the record and have a public hearing about the sexual assault allegations she made in a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat, and an interview with The Washington Post.
“She’s willing to do whatever it takes to get her story forth,” she said on NBC’s “Today” show.
Ms. Katz told CNN’s “New Day” that her client has not been asked to speak before the Senate Judiciary Committee yet. The lawyer explained many lawmakers have statements, but not taken action.
While Ms. Ford is ready to testify, Ms. Katz said Republicans were already planning to play “hardball” with her.
“This is not an exercise that designed to get the truth. This an exercise that’s designed to terrify somebody who’s already been traumatized,” she said on CBS’ “This Morning.”
SEE ALSO: Christine Blasey Ford, Brett Kavanaugh accuser, details sexual assault allegation
However, Ms. Katz said she would release the results of the polygraph Ms. Ford took to “the appropriate authorities,” which would be the Senate Judiciary Committee.
To note, Ms. Ford took the polygraph at her lawyer’s suggestion, but most polygraphs are not admissible as evidence in court.
Ms. Ford said that during a high-school party Judge Kavanaugh and another boy, Mark Judge, who were both extremely drunk locked her in a bedroom. In her telling of events, Judge Kavanaugh climbed on top of her, covered her mouth, and was trying to remove her clothes. She told The Post that she though he would “inadvertently kill me.”
Ms. Ford explained in an interview on CNN’s “New Day,” that her client felt so threatened in part because she was having trouble breathing.
“She clearly considers this an attempted rape. She believes that if it were not for the severe intoxication of Brett Kavanaugh, she would’ve been raped,” Ms. Katz said.
According to The Post, Ms. Ford initially sent a letter to Ms. Feinstein with her allegations in July, but insisted that the senator keep her claim and name confidential until they could discuss the matter further.
SEE ALSO: Dianne Feinstein’s handling of Brett Kavanaugh accusation angers Sen. John Kennedy
Ms. Feinstein came under fire after the allegations were revealed for not coming forward sooner, which many see as a last-ditch attempt to stop the Kavanaugh nomination vote.
Ms. Katz defended Ms. Feinstein on Monday, and explained in her several interviews that the California senator respected her client’s wishes. She said it was a “unfair characterization” to blame Ms. Feinstein for not flagging the allegations earlier and emphasized that her staff checked in on Ms. Ford repeatedly.
The allegations first leaked on Friday, after Ms. Feinstein sent a letter to the committee chairman, Sen. Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, about them on Thursday.
Judge Kavanaugh and the White House both stand by the denials they made when the allegations surfaced.
“On Friday, Judge Kavanaugh ’categorically and unequivocally’ denied this allegation. This has not changed. Judge Kavanaugh and the White House both stand by that statement,” White House spokesperson Kerri Kupec said in a statement.
Mr. Kavanaugh also confirmed Monday he would return to Congress in order to talk about the allegations.
“I am willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in any way the Committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago and defend my integrity,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Kavanaugh also noted that “because this never happened” he had no idea Ms. Ford was the one to accuse him until she revealed herself in The Washington Post.
“This is a completely false allegation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describes — to her or to anyone,” Mr. Kavanaugh said.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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